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Question From professor

As you read about the different types of leadership theories and considered leaders that you have worked with or for, what was effective or ineffective about the leaders or their theories? As you study leadership and begin your analysis of your own leadership experiences (past or future), can these early theories be relevant? How?

Response to Person B

As it was said earlier that autocratic style of leadership is never appreciated in any organization because this is something which differentiates a leader from manager. It is rightly said that the true leader is one who support his followers, motivates them and also consults with them before taking any decision. Despite of these qualities, behavior or style of leadership may change according to the situation in order to achieve the aims of an organization. The Path-Goal theory, given by Robert House, states the same thing that leader's behavior is subjected to the performance, motivation and satisfaction of his sub-ordinates. This theory truly defines different behaviors of leaders according to situation. These behaviors vary from informing the sub-ordinates that what is expected from them and how to perform their task to the level of confidence leaders show on sub-ordinates. At some situations leaders participate with sub ordinates or consult with them to resolve their problems or to accomplish some task. On the other hand many times they also become emotionally supportive to bring about the best performance from their followers. Leaders who practice this theory are said to be the most appreciated and followed ones because they know how to direct their followers remaining flexible with them according to the situations.

Response to person C

Leading a set of human resources is not a simple task. Leadership is the set of capabilities that a person has to influence a group of people, making a team working with enthusiasm in achieving goals and objectives. It also means the ability to take initiative, manage, hold, promote, encourage, motivate and evaluate a group or team. Many leaders practice different kind of leadership styles and behaviors. Those who consult their followers yet they implied their own decisions without informing others or without taken into account the solutions given by sub-ordinates are often not welcomed. Leaders who consult with their followers but do not give importance to their suggestions are often fall under the second type of autocratic leadership, which is defined in Normative Decision model. These kinds of leaders often do not inform bout their decisions before implying and consider sub-ordinates as a source of information and nothing else. Fiedler's contingency theory is widely accepted as the most effective theory of leadership according which leaders who are task oriented can lead most efficiently at the time of situation with low or moderate power. This gives the idea that there is no exact way of leading and a sole leadership style may not work at each circumstance as it may be effective at one situation but not essentially at the other level also.

Response to person D

It is true ...